Wheel structure



G. A. LYON WHEEL STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 2, i938 3 Shasta-Sheet l Go l E Lsser ro/v.

`April 29, 1941. G. A. LYON WHEEL. STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 2, 1958 3 Shoots-Shoot 2 G. A. LYON WHEEL STRUCTURE April 29,` 1531.

. s Smau-'shan s Filed Nov. 2. 195B Patented Apr. 29, 1941,

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE l WHEEL STRUCTURE George Albert Lyon, Allenhurst, N. J.

Application November 2, 1938, Serial No. 238,299

3 Claims.

l This invention relates to a novel Wheel and wheel assembly, and more particularly rto a wheel and wheel assembly in which a wheel disk or other member makes a snap-on engagement with the vehicle wheel without the aid of any spring fingers or other usual form of attaching means.

'Ihe majority of vehicle wheels today are equipped with ornamental wheel disks over their outer surfaces. The use of these wheel disks permits a more economical manufacture of vehicle wheels, since the wheels themselves may be designed solely for strength and utility without regard to ornamental appearance, the wheel disks being employed for the latter purpose. The most popular form of wheel disk at the present time is a wheel disk having a highly polished exterior surface. The exterior surface of the disk may, of course, be ilnished in any other suitable man ner, such as :by enameling it or the like.

In order to minimize the total cost of the wheel assembly, it is of course necessary to minimize the cost of the wheel disk as well as that of the wheel as much as possible. The thinner the sheet metal stock is which is employed to make a wheel disk, the greater the saving in its manufacturing cost. It has been found .that a wheel disk may be constructed of a sheet metal stock having a thickness dimension of such 'a character that a double thickness of the metal. as formed by a tightly folded portion thereof, provides the necessary and desired strength andresiliency in the fastening ilange to firmly and securely mount the disk on the Wheel.

. A further item in the wheel assembly which contributes substantially to the manufacturing costof the wheel assembly of the type that is commonly known at 'the present time is the spring finger or attaching element which has previously been employed -to detachably secure the wheel `iisk over the front face of the wheel. It will,

of course. be appreciated that .the wheel disk must be detachable from the wheel in order to permit access to the wheel-mounting bolts which secure the wheel to the axle-mounting element. The lpresent invention provides a novel form of vehicle wheel which eliminates rthe need for the usual spring fastening fingers and which permits a wheel disk to be mounted directly thereon. More particularly, the vehicle wheel and the wheel disk are so digned that portions of the wheel disk itself act as attaching means by virtue of the fact that other portions of the wheel disk are capable of being distorted out of their normalshape.

Itis an object of the lpresent invention to provide a novel vehicle wheel which is so designed and shaped that a wheel disk may be detachably secured thereon without the need of attaching fingers, bolts, or other similar clamping devices. l

Another object of this invention'is to provide a novel wheel and wheel disk assembly in which the wheel disk is detachably secured to the Wheel in a novel manner.

A further object of .this invention is to provide a novel wheel body ypart having a plurality of radial ribs .thereon over which a wheel disk may be sprung .to detachably secure the latter thereto.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel combination of a wheel disk and a vehicle wheell Another and still Afurther object of this invention itself, however, both as to its organization wheel and a wheel disk wherein the wheel disk is provided with an integral tightly folded flange thereon which is arranged to be distorted out of its normally circular position by distorting means on the vehicle wheel thereby tightly and firmly to secure the wheel disk to the wheel.

Another and still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel vehicle wheel having a plurality of. raised portions thereon for distor-ting a normally circular`tightly folded, generally axially rearwardly extending ilange on a wheel disk .hub cap or other sheet metal wheel member.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My inven- .tion itself, however, both as to its organization and manner lof construction, together Wth further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference .to .the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a vehicle wheel constructed in accordance with rthe principles of the present invention and which is equipped with a wheel disk on its outer face; y l

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional elevational View .taken along the line II-II of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating lthe manner in which the wheel disk engages the Wheel;

Figure 4 is an enlarged partial front view of the wheel with the wheel disk removed;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating a modified form of the present invention wherein a plurality of radially inwardly extending protuberances are provided on an axial portion of the wheel for engagement with the wheel disk;

Figure 6 is a sectional view through the wheel viewed along the line VI-VI in Figure Figure 7 is a front or face view of a wheel and a wheel disk assembly illustrating a different form of the present invention and wherein .the Wheel disk is partially broken away to show the coniiguration of the wheel lying immediately therebehind;

Figure 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of .the Wheel andy wheel disk shown in Figures 7 and 8, and as viewed along the line IX-IX of Figure 7; and

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a modiiied form ofthe wheel and wheel disk assembly shown in Figure 7 wherein the protuberances are formed on the rim rather than on the body part of the wheel.

Referring now to the preferred embodiment of my invention which is illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, there is shown therein a wheel assembly comprising a vehicle wheel I6 and a wheel disk or hub cap member II. As shown in the drawings, the wheel I0 comprises a rim part I2 and a body part I3. .'I'he rim I2 is of the usual drop-center type and includes a base flange I4, opposite intermediate side flanges I5, opposite intermediate base flanges I6, and opposite edge portions I1. The drop-center rim I2 is illustrated as of the type which isl commonly employed in the automotive vehicle art of the present day and, as is well knownl to those skilled in the art, is arranged to receive and accommodate a pneumatic tire (not shown).

'Ihe body part I3 of the wheel I0 includes, in general, a rearwardly extending outer ange I8, an. outer web portion I3, a generally axially rearwardly and slightly radially inwardly extending iiange 20, and a radially inwardly extending wheel mounting flange 2l. The rearwardly extending outer flange I8 is secured to the underside of the base ange I4 of the rim I2 in any suitable manner, such as by riveting it as at 22. The mounting ange 2I is pro'vided with an annular series of apertures 23 for the reception of the wheel mounting bolts 24, which extend therethrough into engagement with the radial attaching flange 25 of the hub 26. 'I'he mounting bolts 24 may, of course, extend through the brake drum 21 if the latter is also mounted on the wheel fastening flange 25 of the hub 26.

The Wheel body part I3 is provided with a plurality of radially extending ribs 28. The ribs 28, which may be pressed, drawn, or otherwise suitably formed in the wheel body part I3, greatly increase the strength of the wheel I0. As is clearly shown in Figure 4 o f the drawings, these ribs 28 extend fromthe outer web portion IB to the inner edge 29 of the wheel body part I3. While I have shown six of these ribs 28 in the drawing, it will of course be understood that any suitable number may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Formed on some or all of the ribs 28 :are secondary ribs or fin-likeprotuberances 3D. As will be best understood from an inspection of Figure 3, these secondary ribs or fin-like protuberances 30 extend around the corner provided by the junction of the outer web'portion I3 with the 75 generally axially rearwardly extending ange portion 20. As will further be observed fromthe drawings, the fin-like protuberances 30 provide a generally radially inwardly extending protuberance or hump portion 3| at their lower ends which provides a depressed portion 32 therebehind. As will presently be explained in detail,

.these secondary ribs or fin-like protuberances provide a means on the vehicle wheel Ill with which the wheel disk II can directly engage to detachably retain the latter thereon Without the use of springs, bolts or other usual form of fastening device.

The wheeldisk II, as shown in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, includes a dome-shaped central portion 33 and an outer annular marginal portion 34. The outer marginal portion 34 is provided with an inturned outer edge, as at 35, which is arranged to rest on the outer face of the wheel I6.

The outer annular portion 34 and the central dome-shaped portion 33 are connected by an integral tightly folded rearwardly extending flange 36, the axial rearward edge of which is slightly outturned as at 31. The outturned portion 31 of the rearwardly extending folded flange 36 is arranged to be forced over the radial inner edge of the secondary ribs or fin-like protuberances 30. The relative dimensions of the folded flange 36, the. outturned portion 31 and the n-like protuberances 30 are so chosen and selected that as the outturned portion 31 of the. flange 36 rides over the radial inner end 3I of the secondary ribs or 1in-like protuberances 3U, the flange 36 is distorted out of its normally circular position. This is by virtue of the fact that the tightly folded iiange 36 possesses a certain amount of resiliency which permits some distortion thereof without rupture. The distortion of the folded ange 36 out of its normally circular position, however, sets up strong resilient biasing forces therein tending to pull it back to its normal position. These forces are of such magnitude and character that the wheel disk II is very tightly held on the wheel by virtue of the engagement of the outturned portion 31 of the flange 36 with the secondary ribs or iin-like protuberances 30. As may be clearly seen from anlnspection of Figure 3, the slightly outturned portion 31- of the folded flange 36 is arranged to extend into the depressed area 32 behind the radial inner extremity 3| of the secondary ribs or fin-like protuberances 30.

While I have shown an arrangement in Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings wherein the axially extending folded iiange of the wheel disk passes over a radial inner portion of the fin-like protuberances or secondary ribs on the wheel, it will of course be understood by those skilled in the art that the wheel disk or member may be provided with an axially extending folded flange having a slightly inturned portion which will pass over a radial outer end of the secondary ribs or iin-like protuberances oi the wheel, there being a suitable depressed portion behind the. radial outer end of the secondary ribs, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. lIt is also to be understood that the dome-shaped central portion 33 or the outer marginal portion 34 of the wheel disk or ornamental member I I may be given any suitable configuration which is 'convenient or ornamental without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

In Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, I have illustrated a modied formy of the present invention wherein the radial ribs 28 of the preferred form are eliminated and wherein a plurality of radially inwardly extending protuberances are employed in the place of the secondary ribs or fin-like protuberances 30 of the preferred embodiment of the invention. Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, wherein only the inner portion of the wheel body part of the vehicle wheel lll is shown, since the remaining portion is substantially similar to that illustrated in Figure 2, there is shown a web portion 38, a generally axially extending portion 39, and a radially extending mounting flange 40. The mounting flange 40 is preferably provided with raised portions or bosses 4| which are apertured as at 42 for the reception of the usual wheel mounting bolt (not shown in Figures 5 or 6). The point at which the web portion 38 merges into the axially extending portion 39 provides a curved annular shoulder or corner 43. At annularly spaced points around the axially extending portion 39 of the wheel body i3 and in close proximity to the shoulder or corner 43, a plurality of radially inwardly extending protuberances or humpshaped portions 44 are provided. As is clearly shown in Figure 5, these protuberances 44 extend radially inwardly of the inner surface of the flange 39 and provide a means for engaging and distorting a folded flange 36 of the wheel disk or ornamental member ll. As is shown in Figure 5, the flange 36 of the wheel disk Il is vbent slightly outwardly as at 3l near its axial rearward end. While the outer marginal portion of the wheel disk Il may be similar to that shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, I preferably provide a simple bead-like portion 45.

It will be understood by thoseV skilled in the art that the tightly folded axially extending flange 36 of the wheel disk or ornamental member Il is distorted out of 4its normally circular shape as the outturned end 31 of the flange 36 rides over the protuberances 44. The manner in which the wheel disk Il holds itself on the wheel I by the inherent resiliency in the tightly folded flange 36 is exactly the same in this case as that described in connection with the preferred embodiment of the invention,

In Figures 7, 8 and 9 of the drawings I have illustrated an embodiment of my invention as applied to a one-piece wheel such as that described in my copending application entitled Wheel, Serial No. 91,504, filed July 20, 1936. The wheel and wheel disk assembly illustrated-in these figures include the usual rim part 46 and a radially extending depending wheel mounting flange 4l.

The flange-4l is provided with an annular series of apertures 48 through which the usual wheel mounting bolts 49 are adapted to be inserted for engagement with the brake drum 50. The rim part 46 includes a base flange 5i, opposite side flanges 52, opposite intermediate flanges 53, and opposite edge portions 54. As may be seen by a close inspection of Figure 8, a radially inwardly extending wheel mounting flange 4l is formed integral with the rim 46 and is formed of a double thickness of metal. The wheel mounting flange 4l may be formed in any suitable or convenient manner, such as by bending or collapsing a portion of the base flange i in a die press.

In order to provide suitable means on this type of wheel upon which the ornamental member or wheel disk ll may be mounted, an annular series of radially inwardly extending protuberances 55 .are formed in the base flange 5I of the rim 46.

Cil

Preferably these protuberances are formed in close proximity to the junction point of the base flange 5I and the outer intermediate side flange 52 (see Figures 7 and 8).

The wheel disk or ornamental member II is shown in this form 'of the invention as extending substantially across the entire outer face of the wheel. With the exception of the relative dimensions, the wheel disk or ornamental mem`` ber il in this form of the invention is` substantially similar to that shown in Figure 2 and in- ,cludes a dome-shaped central portion 33, an outer marginal portion 34, and an integral tightly folded axially extending flange 36 which termioutturned edge 3l of the folded flange 36 behind the protuberances 55 on the base flange 5l of the rim 46.

In Figure 10 of the drawings I have illustrated a modified form of the wheel shown ln Figures Y 7 to 9 wherein an annular series of protuberances 56 are formed in the outer intermediate base flange 53 instead of the base flange 5l. These protuberances 56 are preferably formed in close proximity to the Junction of the outer intermediate base flange 53 and the outer edge por tion 54. The wheel disk or ornamental member Il is substantially similar to that shown in Figures '1, 8 and 9, with the exception that the outer marginal portion 34 is slightly altered in general shape to take into account its different location on the wheel.

While I have shown particular embodiments of my invention, it will of course be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made, and I therefore contemplate by the appended claims to cover all such modifications as fall within the ytrue spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a wheel and ornamental member assembly, the combination comprising a wheel having a plurality of radially inwardly extending protuberances on the outer face thereof, and an ornamental member disposed on the outer face of said wheel having radially inner and outer parts joined by an integral axially rearwardly extending normally circular folded flange, the rear edge portion of said flange being of greater diameter than the clearance diameter of said protuberances, said folded flange being telescoped with said wheel past said protuberances and said edge portion of said foldedI flange engaging behind said protuberances, forcing said folded flange out of its normally circular position, whereby said ornamental member is detachably secured to said wheel.

2. In a wheel and ornamental member assembly, the combination comprising a wheel having a plurality of ribs on the outer face thereof, the

radially outer portion of said ribs extending radially inwardly then axially lrearwardly and obliquely radially outwardly, and an ornamental member disposed on the outer face of said wheel having an integral axially rearwardly extending normally circular resilient folded flange thereon, the rear edge portion of said flange being continuous and being of greater diameter than the clearance diameter of said ribs, said folded ange being telescoped with said wheel past the radially innermost portions of said ribs and said edge portion of said folded flange engaging the axially inner portions of said ribs and being spaced from the remainder of said wheel, said folded flange being distorted out of its normally circular position against the inherent resiliency thereof, whereby said ornamental member is detachably secured to said wheel.

3. The combination comprising a vehicle wheel and an ornamental sheet metal member disposed on the outer face thereof, said wheel having a plurality of radially extending protruberances thereon disposed in a single circular alignment GEORGE ALBERT- LYON. 

